Alex groaned as they felt a hand on their shoulder, "Back already, doctor? I thougth you would be out later..."

"No, everyone is still chatting. Laura told me you weren't feeling too good."

Shooting upright, Alex looked at Jolana, smiling as she sat next to the maintenance cradle, still wearing her vening dress from before. Sighing, Alex leant back slowly, "Sorry for troubling you... Or, for that lot troubling you."

Jolana giggled, "Nah, I was starting to wind down myself. So, what's been eating you?"

Alex smiled softly, glancing around, "Just getting used to... Socialising, I guess. Things were simpler when I wasn't thinking for myself."

Jolana smiled softly, "Well, you are new at this. Humans do take years to get used to this stuff, you know."

"Hah, I supose so." Fidgeting, Alex looked at Jolana, "And... There is this book I found. It has been bugging me."

"Oh? What is so odd about it?"

"... It is about the war, and what led up to it. It... Makes me think about the Mars AI."

Jolana leant over, patting Alex on the arm, "Hey... People go bad, so AI going bad isn't that strange. We are just lucky to have you."

Alex laughed, "I guess so. There was something else, though... I was wondering if Ren should see it."

"Oh, right. He was involved in the whole accident, after all... Worked on the machines, before the AI takeover."

Alex swallowed lightly, "... Yes he did. The book in question... His name appears in it."

Jolana froze, "... Is it a journal? From someone he knew?" Alex nodded, "... I can see why you have been absent minded lately, then. That must be a lot to take in."

Alex nodded again, smiling shakily, "I don't want to go too much into it... But, yeah. I have so many things I want to look into, but Ren probably would just be troubled by it all... And I can't exactly hack into Mars classified intel."

Jolana smirked, "I dunno. You do have a huge brain."

Throwing a pillow at her, Alex laughed, "Sorry for springing that on you... We weren't sure how you would react, until you started, well..."

"... Flirting with you?" Alex nodded with a blush, making Jolana giggle, "Well, you are fun to talk to... And there was an interesting mystery to you. One you kinda sprung the answer on me."

Alex laughed again, "Speaking of mysteries, there has been something bugging me..."

"Hmm? What is it?"

Alex blushed brightly, "Well, uh... Since you were flirting with me, I couldn't figure out how you saw me, exactly."

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

Jolana blinked, and then smirked, "Like I said... You were an interesting mystery. Finding out you had two... Individual bodies helped solve that one."

Alex groaned, closing their eyes as they tried to calm down, "So, then... Since you know, which do you want to hang out with?"

Jolana shrugged, "Either is fine, honestly."

"... Wait, really?"

"Yeah? I mean, even if I plan on continuing the flirting... I still need a little longer to adjust to that idea. And besides, you fit my type either way~"

Alex hid their face, "... I'm just thankful you aren't the most... Spontanious person I have been around."

Joalana laughed, "Crazy, you mean. Say... How acurate are those bodies, anyway?"

"... Very, except the cellular regeneration, and the brain. There is just a transmitter there, instead."

"Huh. Cool. Ever got curious?"

"Hmm? About what?"

jolana sighed, and giggled, "Nevermind. I'm sure Sam's bad influence will infect you eventually, if I don't first." Tilting her head, she looked at Alex for a bit, humming.

"... Yes?"

"Is this how you normally sleep?"

"... Pretty much. I usually fully disable the AHOR units... But it has proven useful to activate them quickly. I'm getting into the habit of keeping one running."

"Where is the other?"

"Hmm? My male unit is outside, sleeping in the shuttle. I was overseeing the panel installation of the spare shuttle, and thought it was closer."

Jolana laughed, "Wait, the male one? I hadn't rwalised you were in girl mode all night."

Alex grinned, "The units are... ninety five percent the same, maybe more? They are designed to be indisdiguishable in appearance."

"You didn't correct Laura calling you a guy, though."

Alex shrugged, "Wasn't important. Half of me is still a guy, even if she wasn't talking to that half directly."

"Sounds confusing."

"Very. I'm still getting used to having genders, after all."

"That... Is a good point. Why not go for something unique? You aren't bound by biology, after all."

Alex paled, "I'll pass for now. Maybe if I get a better idea for it after using the units for a long time... For now, I can't really feel the difference."

"If you say so." Getting up, Jolana groaned, "I think I should say gpood night to everyone. You should get back to resting, too.."

As Alex went to nod, Jolana leant in to kiss her on the cheek, "Sleep well... And god luck figuring things out."

As Jolana walked out with a cheeky smile, Alex waved good night... Feeling more confused and jumbled than when they went to sleep before.